The eerie world of Lumon Industries may be fictional, but the building where it comes to life on screen is very real.
The unsettling, cult-like corporate environment of Severance may feel like a dystopian nightmare, but did you know parts of the show are filmed in a real office complex? Bell Works, located in Holmdel, New Jersey, serves as the backdrop for Lumon Industries, the shadowy biotechnology company at the heart of the Apple TV+ series.
Unlike the cold and sterile aesthetic of Lumon’s underground offices, Bell Works is a vibrant and modern space bustling with restaurants, shops, and innovative businesses. Originally home to Bell Labs—one of the most significant research institutions of the 20th century—the building has undergone a massive transformation, proving that reality is often stranger than fiction.
Bell Works: A Hub of Innovation Turned TV Icon
Before it became the setting for Severance, Bell Works was a beacon of technological innovation. Originally built in 1962 for AT&T’s Bell Laboratories, the 2-million-square-foot complex housed over 6,000 employees and played a crucial role in technological advancements, including the development of laser theory and even aspects of the Big Bang Theory.
After years of dormancy, the building was purchased in 2013 for $27 million by Inspired by Somerset Development. It was then rebranded as Bell Works—a “metroburb,” or a metropolitan hub in a suburban setting. Today, it features modern office spaces, event venues, a bar, a basketball court, an indoor golf simulator, and even a high-end caviar service.
A Cinematic Setting: Filming Severance at Bell Works
Though Severance features many custom-built soundstages, Bell Works plays a vital role in establishing the show’s eerie atmosphere. The series uses the complex’s exterior, entrance, parking lot, and its central, skylit atrium. However, the stark white hallways and ominous green-carpeted offices seen in the show were designed specifically for filming.
Production designer Jeremy Hindle carefully crafted the unsettling look of Lumon Industries. “Green is the most common color to your eye; it’s calming,” Hindle explained. “We wanted the environment to feel both familiar and isolating.”
Despite the show’s bleak atmosphere, the real-life Bell Works is anything but. Its open atrium is lively, with more than 70 vendors operating inside, including local eateries, a fitness franchise, and major corporations such as Guardian Life and Jersey Central Power & Light.
A Massive Investment in New Jersey Filming
With its unique aesthetic and historical significance, Bell Works became a key filming location for Severance, contributing to a significant economic boost for New Jersey. The first season of the show spent $5.1 million filming in the state, while the second season skyrocketed to over $24 million across three years.
Other New Jersey locations used in Severance include:
- Kings Landing, a condominium complex in Middletown
- Palisades Interstate Park, which overlooks the Hudson River
- Phoenicia Diner in the Catskills, which served as Pip’s Bar & Grille in the series
A Real Office With a Fictional Legacy
Though Severance paints Bell Works as a mysterious and eerie corporate dystopia, the reality couldn’t be more different. Once a hub of scientific discovery, it has now evolved into a thriving commercial and social space.
For fans of Severance, visiting Bell Works offers a chance to step into the show’s world—minus the mind-wiping procedure. Whether you’re grabbing a Negroni at the on-site bar or walking through its expansive atrium, one thing is clear: the real Bell Works is a place where history, innovation, and now pop culture collide.
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